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

by Henryk Sienkiewicz

  CHAPTER LII.

  Olenka and Anusia, having freed themselves from Taurogi, under theprotection of Braun, came successfully to the sword-bearer's party,which at that time was near Olsha, therefore not very far from Taurogi.

  The old noble when he saw them both in good health would not believehis eyes at first; then he fell to weeping from delight, and finallycame to such military enthusiasm that for him danger existed no longer.Let not only Boguslav appear, but the King of Sweden himself with allhis power, Pan Billevich was ready to defend his maidens against everyenemy.

  "I will fall," said he, "before a hair shall drop from your heads. I amno longer the man whom you knew in Taurogi, and I think that the Swedeswill long remember Girlakole, Yasvoynya, and those beatings which Igave them at Rossyeni itself. It is true that the traitor Sakovichattacked us unawares and routed us, but you see several hundred sabreson service."

  Pan Billevich did not exaggerate greatly, for in truth it was difficultto recognize in him the former prisoner of Taurogi fallen in courage.He had another mind now; his energy had revived in the field, on hishorse; he found himself in his element, and being a good soldier, hehad really handled the Swedes several times roughly. And since he hadgreat authority in the neighborhood, the nobles and common peopleflocked to him willingly, and even from some remote districts aBillevich brought him now between ten and twenty horsemen, now sometens of horsemen.

  Pan Tomash's party was composed of three hundred peasant infantry andabout five hundred horsemen. It was rare that any man in the infantryhad a gun; the greater number were armed with scythes and forks. Thecavalry was a collection of the wealthier nobles, who betook themselvesto the forest with their attendants, and of the poorer nobles fromvillages. Their arms were better than those of the infantry, butgreatly varied. Hop-poles served as lances for many; some carried richfamily weapons, but frequently of a past age; the horses, of variousbreeds and quality, were not fitted for one rank.

  With such troops the sword-bearer could block the road to Swedishpatrols, he might cut off even detachments of cavalry, he might clearforests and villages of plunderers, whose numerous bands, composed ofSwedish fugitives, Prussian and local ruffians, were busied withrobbery; but he could not attack any town.

  The Swedes had grown wiser. Immediately after the outbreak of therebellion those who were scattered in quarters in the villages were cutdown throughout Jmud and Lithuania; but now those who had survivedremained mostly in fortified towns, which they left only for shortexpeditions. Therefore the fields, forests, hamlets, and smaller townswere in Polish hands; but the larger towns were held by Swedes, andthere was no power to dislodge them.

  The sword-bearer's party was one of the best; others could effect stillless than he. On the boundary of Livonia the insurgents had grown sobold, it is true, that they besieged Birji twice, and at the secondattack it was forced to surrender; but that temporary preponderancecame from this,--that Pontus de la Gardie had assembled to the defenceof Riga against the forces of the Tsar all the troops from theneighboring districts of Livonia.

  His brilliant victories, rarely equalled in history, caused the belief,however, that war in that quarter would soon be at an end, and that hewould bring to Jmud new Swedish troops intoxicated with triumphs. Stillthere was safety enough in the forests at that time; and numerousparties of insurgents capable of undertaking little alone might stillbe certain that the enemy would not seek them in deep wildernesses.

  Therefore Pan Billevich rejected the thought of hiding in Byalovyej;for the road to it was very long, and on the way were many considerableplaces with large garrisons.

  "The Lord God has given a dry autumn," said he to the maidens,"therefore it is easier to live _sub Jove_ (in the open air). I willhave a regular tent made for you; I will find a woman to wait on you,and you will stay in the camp. In these times there is no safer refugethan the forest. My Billeviche is burned to the ground; country housesare infested by ravagers and sometimes even by Swedish parties. Wherecould you incline your heads more safely than with me, who have severalhundred sabres at my command? Rains will come later, then some cabinwill be found for you in the forest."

  This idea pleased Panna Anusia greatly; for in the party were manyyoung Billeviches, polite cavaliers, and besides it was saidcontinually that Pan Babinich was marching in that direction.

  Anusia hoped that when he came he would drive out the Swedes in atwinkle, and then--then would be what God would give. Olenka judgedalso that it was safest with the party; but she wished to retreat farfrom Taurogi, fearing the pursuit of Sakovich.

  "Let us go to Vodokty," said she; "there we shall be among our ownpeople. Although it is burned, Mitruny and all the neighboring villagesare there. It is impossible that the whole country is turned into adesert. Lauda will defend us in case of danger."

  "But all the Lauda men have gone with Volodyovski," said Yur Billevich,in opposition.

  "The old men and the youths have remained, and even the women there areable to defend in case of need. Besides, forests are greater there thanhere; the Domasheviches, the hunters, or the Smoky Gostyeviches willtake us to Rogovsk, where no enemy will find us."

  "And when I have secured the camp and you, I will attack the Swedes,and cut to pieces those who dare to touch the rim of the wilderness,"said Pan Billevich. "This is an excellent idea! We have nothing to dohere; it is possible to render greater service."

  Who knows whether the sword-bearer did not seize that idea of Olenka soquickly because he too in his soul was somewhat afraid of Sakovich, whobrought to despair, might be terrible?

  The advice, however, was wise in itself; therefore it pleased allimmediately. The sword-bearer sent out infantry that very day undercommand of Yur Billevich, so as to push forward by the forest in thedirection of Krakinov; but he went forward himself with the cavalry twodays later, obtaining in advance reliable intelligence as to whetherthere had not gone out from Kyedani or Rossyeni, between which he hadto march, some considerable bodies of Swedish troops.

  Pan Billevich marched slowly and carefully. The ladies travelled inpeasants' wagons, and sometimes on ponies which the sword-bearer hadprovided.

  Anusia, who had received as a gift from Yur Billevich a light sabre,hung it bravely at her side, and in a cap, placed jauntily on her head,brought up the squadron like some captain. The march amused her, thesabres glittering in the sun, and the fires disposed around at night.Young officers and soldiers were greatly pleased with the lady, and sheshot her eyes around in every direction on the march; she let hertresses fall so as to braid them three times daily over the banks ofbright brooks, which for her took the place of a mirror. She said oftenthat she wished to see a battle, so as to give an example of bravery;but in very truth she did not want a battle at all. She wanted only tosubdue the hearts of all the young warriors; in fact, she did subdue anunreckoned number of them.

  Olenka too revived again, as it were, after leaving Taurogi. There theuncertainty of her future and continual fear were killing her; now inthe depths of the forest she felt safer. The wholesome air brought backher strength. The sight of soldiers, of weapons, the movement andbustle of camp life, acted like balsam on her wearied soul. And themarch of troops acted agreeably on her also; possible dangers did notalarm her in the least, for knightly blood was in her veins. Appearingless frequently before the soldiers, not permitting herself to gallopon a pony in front of the ranks, she attracted fewer glances, butgeneral respect surrounded her. The mustached faces of the soldierswere laughing at sight of Anusia; heads were uncovered when Olenka drewnear the fires. That was changed later to homage. But it did not passwithout this,--that some heart beat for her in a youthful breast; buteyes did not dare to gaze at her so directly as at that brunette of theUkraine.

  They advanced through forests and thickets, often sending scouts ahead;and only on the seventh day did they arrive late at night in Lyubich,which, lying on the border of the Lauda region, formed as it were theentrance to it. The horses
were so tired that in spite of Olenka'sopposition it was impossible to go farther; Billevich thereforeforebade the lady to find fault, and disposed his party for the halt.He himself with the young ladies occupied the house, for the night wasfoggy and very cold. By a marvellous chance the house had not beenburned. The enemy had spared it probably through the command of PrinceYanush Radzivill, because it was Kmita's; and though the prince learnedlater of Pan Andrei's secession, he forgot or had not time to give anew order. The insurgents considered the estate as belonging to theBilleviches; the ravagers did not dare to plunder near Lauda. Thereforenothing had changed in it. Olenka went under that roof with a terriblefeeling of bitterness and pain. She knew every corner there, but almostwith each one was bound up some memory of Kmita's betrayal. Before heris the dining-hall ornamented with the portraits of the Billeviches andwith skulls of wild beasts of the forest; the skulls cracked withbullets are still on the nails; the portraits slashed with sabres aregazing from the walls, as if wishing to say, "Behold, O maiden! behold,our granddaughter! it was he who slashed with sacrilegious hand thepictures of our earthly forms, now resting long in their graves."

  Olenka felt that she could not close an eye in that branded house. Itseemed to her that in the dark corners of the rooms were prowlingaround yet the ghosts of those terrible comrades breathing fire fromtheir nostrils. And how quickly that man, so loved by her, had passedfrom violence to transgression, from transgression to crimes, from theslashing of portraits to profligacy, to the burning of Upita andVolmontovichi, to carrying her off from Vodokty; further to the serviceof Radzivill, to treason, crowned with the promise of raising his handagainst the king, against the father of the whole Commonwealth!

  The night went on swiftly, but sleep did not seize the lids of unhappyOlenka. All the wounds of her soul were reopened and began to burnpainfully. Shame again was scorching her cheeks; her eyes dropped notears in that time, but immeasurable grief surrounded her heart,because it could not find place within that poor heart. Grief for what?For what might have been had he been other,--if with his bad habits,wildness, and violence, he had even had an honest heart; if finally hehad even a measure in his crimes, if there existed some boundary overwhich he was incapable of passing? And her heart would have forgiven somuch.

  Anusia saw the suffering of her companion, and understood the cause;for the old sword-bearer had detailed the whole history to herpreviously. Since she had a kind heart, she came up to Panna Billevich,and throwing her arms around her neck, said,--

  "Olenka, you are writhing from pain in this house."

  Olenka at first did not wish to speak; then her whole body trembledlike an aspen leaf, and at last a terrible, despairing cry burst fromher bosom. Seizing Anusia's hand convulsively, she rested her brighthead on that maiden's shoulder; sobbing now tore her as a whirlwindtears a thicket.

  Anusia had to wait long before it passed; at last she whispered whenOlenka was pacified somewhat, "Let us pray for him."

  Olenka covered her eyes with both hands. "I--cannot," said she, with aneffort.

  After a while, gathering back feverishly the hair which had fallen onher forehead, she began to speak with a gasping voice,--

  "You see--I cannot-- You are happy; your Babinich is honorable, famous,before God and the country. You are happy; I am not free even topray-- Here, everywhere, is the blood of people, and here are burnedruins. If at least he had not betrayed the country, if he had notundertaken to sell the king! I had forgiven everything before, inKyedani; for I thought--for I loved him with my whole heart. But now Icannot--O merciful God! I cannot! I could wish not to live myself, andthat he were not living."

  "It is permitted to pray for every soul," said Anusia; "for God is moremerciful than men, and knows reasons which often men do not know."

  When she had said this, Anusia knelt down to pray, and Olenka threwherself on the floor in the form of a cross, and lay thus tilldaybreak.

  Next morning the news thundered through the neighborhood that PanBillevich was in Lauda. At that news all who were living came forthwith greeting. Therefore out of the neighboring forests issued decrepitold men, and women with small children. For two years no one had sowedany seed, no one had ploughed any land. The villages were partly burnedand were deserted. The people lived in the forests. Men in the vigor oflife had gone with Volodyovski or to various parties; only youthswatched and guarded the remnant of cattle, and guarded well, but undercover of the wilderness.

  They greeted the sword-bearer then as a savior, with a great cry ofjoy; for to those simple people it seemed that if the sword-bearer hadcome and the "lady" was returning to the ancient nest, then there mustbe an end to war and disasters. In fact, they began at once to returnto the villages, and to drive out the half-wild cattle from the deepestforest inclosures.

  The Swedes, it is true, were not far away, defended by intrenchments inPonyevyej; but in presence of Billevich's forces and other neighboringparties which might be summoned in case of need, less attention waspaid to them.

  Pan Tomash even intended to attack Ponyevyej, so as to clear out thewhole district; but he was waiting for more men to rally to his banner,and waiting especially till guns were brought to his infantry. Theseguns the Domasheviches had secreted in considerable number in theforest; meanwhile he examined the neighborhood, passing from village tovillage.

  But that was a gloomy review at Vodokty. The mansion was burned, andhalf the village; Mitruny in like manner; Volmontovichi of the Butryms,which Kmita had burned in his time, and which had been rebuilt afterthe fire, by a marvellous chance was untouched; but Drojeykani andMozgi of the Domasheviches was burned to the ground; Patsuneli was halfconsumed, and Morezi altogether. Goshchuni experienced the harshestfate; for half the people were cut to pieces, and all the men to boysof a few years had their hands cut off by command of Colonel Rossa.

  So terribly had war trampled those neighborhoods! such were the resultsof the treason of Yanush Radzivill!

  But before Billevich had finished his review and stationed hisinfantry, fresh tidings came, at once joyful and terrible, which rangwith thousand-fold echo from cottage to cottage.

  Yurek Billevich, who had gone with a few tens of horses on areconnoissance to Ponyevyej and had seized some Swedes, was the firstto learn of the battle at Prostki. Then every report brought moredetails, so wondrous that they resembled a fable.

  Pan Gosyevski, it was said, had routed Count Waldeck, Israel, andPrince Boguslav. The army was cut to pieces, the leaders in captivity.All Prussia was blazing in one conflagration.

  A few weeks later the mouths of men began to repeat one terriblename,--the name of Babinich.

  Babinich, said they, was the main cause of the victory at Prostki.Babinich cut down with his own hand and captured Prince Boguslav. Thenext news was: "Babinich is burning Electoral Prussia, is advancinglike death toward Jmud, slaying, leaving behind only earth and sky."

  Then came the end: "Babinich has burned Taurogi. Sakovich has fledbefore him, and is hiding in forests." The last event had happened toonear to remain long in doubt. In fact, the news was verified perfectly.

  Anusia during the whole time that news was arriving lived as if dazed;she laughed and wept in turn, stamped her feet when no one believed,and repeated to every one, whether that one would listen or not,--

  "I know Pan Babinich. He brought me from Zamost to Pan Sapyeha. He isthe greatest warrior in the world. I do not know whether PanCharnyetski is his equal. He is the man who serving under Sapyehacrushed Boguslav utterly in the first campaign. He--I am sure that itis no other--conquered him at Prostki. Yes, he can finish Sakovich andten like Sakovich; and he will sweep out the Swedes in a month from allJmud."

  In fact, her assurances began to be justified speedily. There was notthe least doubt that the terrible warrior called Babinich had movedforward from Taurogi toward the northern country.

  At Koltyni he defeated Colonel Baldon and cut his troops to pieces; atVarni he scattered the Swedish infantry, which retreated before him atT
elshi; at Telshi he won a greater victory over two colonels, Normanand Hudenskioeld, in which the latter fell, and Norman with thesurvivors did not halt till he reached Zagori, on the very boundary ofJmud.

  From Telshi Babinich marched to Kurshani, driving before him smallerdivisions of Swedes, who took refuge in haste with the more importantgarrisons.

  From Taurogi and Polangi to Birji and Vilkomir the name of the victorwas ringing. They told of the cruelties which he permitted himselfagainst the Swedes. It was said that his forces, composed at first of asmall chambul of Tartars and little squads of volunteers, increased dayafter day; for all who were living rushed to him, all parties joinedhim, but he bound them in bonds of iron and led them against the enemy.

  Minds were so far occupied by his victories that tidings of the defeatwhich Pan Gosyevski had sustained from Steinbock at Filipovo passedalmost without an echo. Babinich was nearer, and with Babinich theywere more occupied.

  Anusia implored Billevich daily to advance and join the great warrior.Olenka supported her; all the officers and nobles urged, excited bycuriosity alone.

  But to join the warrior was not easy. First, Babinich was in anotherdistrict; second, he often disappeared, and was not heard of for weeks,and then appeared again with news of a new victory; third, all theSwedish soldiers and garrisons, protecting themselves from him, hadstopped the road with large forces; finally, beyond Rossyeni aconsiderable body of troops had appeared under Sakovich, of whomtidings were brought saying that he was destroying everything beforehim, and torturing people terribly while questioning them concerningBillevich's party.

  The sword-bearer not only could not march to Babinich, but he fearedthat it would soon be too narrow for him near Lauda. Not knowinghimself what to begin, he confided to Yurek Billevich that he intendedto withdraw to the forest of Rogovsk on the east. Yurek immediatelygave this information to Anusia, and she went straight to thesword-bearer.

  "Dearest uncle," said she, for she always called him uncle when shewanted to gain something from him, "I hear that we have to flee. Is itnot a shame for so celebrated a warrior to flee at the mere report ofan enemy?"

  "Your ladyship must thrust your three coppers into everything," saidthe anxious sword-bearer. "This is not your affair."

  "Very well, then, retreat, but I will stay here."

  "So that Sakovich will catch you,--you'll see!"

  "Sakovich will not catch me, for Pan Babinich will defend me."

  "Especially when he knows where you are. I have said already that weare unable to go to him."

  "But he can come to us. I am his acquaintance; if I could only send aletter to him, I am certain he would come here, after he had beatenSakovich. He loved me a little, and he would come to rescue me."

  "But who will undertake to carry a letter?"

  "It can be sent through the first peasant that comes."

  "It will do no harm, it will do no harm; in no case will it do harm.Olenka has quick wit, but neither are you without it. Even if we had toretreat to the woods this moment before superior force, it would stillbe well to have Babinich come to these parts, for we can then join himmore easily. Try! Messengers will be found, and trusty men."

  The delighted Anusia began to try so well that that same day she foundtwo messengers,--and not peasants; for one was Yurek Billevich, theother Braun. Each was to take a letter of the same contents as thatwhich the other carried, so that if one failed the other might deliverthe missive to Babinich. With the letter itself Anusia had moretrouble; but at last she wrote it in the following words:--

  "In the last extremity I write to you. If you remember me, though Idoubt if you do, come to rescue me. By the kindness which you showed meon the road from Zamost, I dare to hope that you will not leave me inmisfortune. I am in the party of Pan Billevich, the sword-bearer ofRossyeni, who gave me refuge because I brought his relative, PannaBillevich, out of captivity in Taurogi. And him and us both the enemy,namely, the Swedes, have surrounded on every side, and a certain PanSakovich, before whose sinful importunities I had to flee and seeksafety in the camp. I know that you did not love me, though God seesthat I did you no harm. I wished you well, and I shall wish you wellfrom my whole heart. But though you do not love, rescue a poor orphanfrom the savage hand of the enemy. God will reward you for it a hundredfold, and I will pray for you, whom to-day I call only my goodprotector, but hereafter my savior."

  When the messengers were leaving the camp, Anusia, considering to whatdangers they were exposed, was alarmed, and at last wished to stopthem. Even with tears in her eyes she began to implore the sword-bearernot to permit them to go; for peasants might carry the letters, and itwould be easier for the peasants to deliver them.

  But Braun and Yurek Billevich were so stubborn that no remonstrancecould avail. One wished to surpass the other in readiness to serve, butneither foresaw what was awaiting him. A week later Braun fell into thehands of Sakovich, who gave command to flay him; but poor Yurek wasshot beyond Ponyevyej while fleeing before a Swedish party.

  Both letters fell into the hands of the enemy.