CHAPTER XXIII
At last came the day of departure. The party moved out of Yedlinka atdaylight, with beautiful weather, and with horses and men in goodnumber. Besides the iron and leather-covered carriage intended for theladies and the priest, in case his old gun-wound should annoy him onhorseback too greatly, there were three well-laden wagons drawn each byfour horses. At each wagon were three men, including the driver. BehindPan Serafin six mounted attendants, in turquoise-colored livery, ledreserve horses. The priest had two men, each Bukoyemski had two also,besides a forester who guarded the trunk-laden wagons, altogetherthirty-four persons well armed with muskets and sabres. It is true thatin case of attack some could not aid in defending, since they wouldhave to guard wagons and horses, but even in that case the Bukoyemskisfelt sure that they could go through the world with those attendants,and that it would not be healthy for a party three or four times theirnumber to attack them. Their hearts were swelling with a delight soenormous that hardly could they stay in their saddles. They had foughtmanfully in their time against Tartars and Cossacks, but those werecommon, small wars, and later on, when they settled in the wilderness,their youth had passed merely in inspecting inclosures, in a ceaselesswatch over foresters, in killing bears when it was their duty topreserve them, and in drunken frolics at Kozenitse and Radom andPrityk. But now, for the first time, when each put his stirrup near thestirrup of his brother, when they were going to a war against theimmense might of Turkey, they felt that this was their truedestination, that their past life had been vain and wretched, and thatnow had begun in reality the deeds and achievements for which God theFather had created Polish nobles, God the Son redeemed them, and theHoly Ghost made them sacred. They could not think this out clearly, orexpress it in phrases, for in those things they had never beenpowerful, but they wished to fire off their guns then in ecstasy. Theiradvance seemed too slow to them. They wished to let out their horsesand rush like a whirlwind, fly toward that great destination, to thatgreat battle of the Poles with the pagans, to that triumph throughPolish hands of the cross above the crescent, to a splendid death, andto glory for the ages. They felt loftier in some way, purer, morehonorable, and in their nobility still more ennobled.
They had scarcely a thought then for Martsian and his rioting company,or for barriers and engagements on the roadway. All that seemed to themnow something trivial, vain, and unworthy of attention. And if wholelegions had stood in their way, they would have shot over them like atempest, they would have ridden across them just in passing, put themunder the bellies of their horses, and rushed along farther. Theirnative leonine impulses were roused, and warlike, knightly blood hadbegun to play in them with such vigor that if command had been giventhose four men to charge the whole bodyguard of the Sultan, they wouldnot have hesitated one instant.
But similar feelings, and founded, moreover, on old recollections,filled the hearts of Pan Serafin and Father Voynovski. The priest hadpassed the flower of his life on the field with a lance in his hand, ora sabre. He remembered whole series of reverses and victories, heremembered the dreadful rebellion of Hmelnitski, Joltevody, Korsun,Pilavtse, Zbaraj the renowned, and the giant battle of Berestechko. Heremembered the Swedish war, with its never-ending record of strugglesand the attack of Rakotsi. He had been in Denmark, for a triumphingpeople, not satisfied with crushing and driving out Sweden, had sent inpursuit of it Charnyetski's invincible regiments to the borders of adistant ocean; he had helped to defeat Dolgoruki and Hovanski; he hadknown the noblest knights and greatest men of the period; he had been apupil of Pan Michael the immortal; he had been enamoured of slaughter,storms, battles, and bloodshed, but all that had lasted only tillpersonal misfortune had broken his spirit, and he took on himself holyorders. From that day he changed altogether, and when, turning topeople in front of the altar, he said to them: "Peace be with you;" hebelieved himself uttering Christ's own commandment, and that every war,as opposed to that commandment, "is abhorrent" to Heaven, a sin againstmercy, a stain on Christian nations. But a war against Turks was theone case which he excepted. "God," said he, "put the Polish people onhorseback, and turned their breasts eastward; by that same act Heshowed them His will and their calling. He knew why He chose us forthat position, and put others behind our shoulders; hence, if we wishto fulfil His command and our mission with worthiness, we must facethat vile sea, and break its waves with our bosoms."
Father Voynovski judged, therefore, that God had placed on the thronepurposely a sovereign who, when hetman, had shed pagan blood in suchquantity, that his hands might give the last blow to the enemy, andavert ruin from Christians at once and forever. It seemed to him thatjust then had appeared the great day of destination, the day toaccomplish God's purpose; hence he considered that war as a sacred wayof the cross, and was charmed at the thought, that age, toil, andwounds had not pressed him to the earth so completely, that he mightnot take part in it.
He would be able yet to wave a flag, he, the old soldier of Christ,would spur on his horse, and spring with a cross in his hand to thethickest of the battle, with the certainty in his heart that behind himand that cross a thousand sabres would bite on the skulls of the pagansand a thousand lances would enter their bodies.
Finally thoughts flew to his head which were personal, and more inaccord with his earlier disposition. He could hold the cross in hisleft, but in the right hand a sabre. As a priest he could not do thisagainst Christians, but against Turks it was proper! Oh, proper! Now hewould show young men for the first time how pagan lights should beextinguished, how pagan champions must be mowed down and cut to pieces;he would show of what kind were the warriors of his day. Nay! on morefields than one men had marvelled at his prowess. It may happen nowthat even the king will be astounded! And this thought at that momentso filled him with rapture that he failed in his rosary: "HailMary--slay! kill!--full of grace--at them!--The Lord is with Thee--cutthem down!" Till at last he recovered. "Tfu! to the evil one withthis--glory is smoke. Has insanity seized me? _non nobis, non nobis sednomini tuo_" (not to us, not to us, but to Thy name) and he passed thebeads through his fingers more attentively.
Pan Serafin was repeating also his litany of the morning, but from timeto time he looked now at the priest, now at the young lady, now at theBukoyemskis, who were riding at the side of the carriage, now at thetrees and the dew-covered grassy openings between them. At last, whenhe had finished the final "Hail, Mary!" he turned to the old man, andsaid, sighing deeply,--
"Your grace seems to be in rather good spirits?"
"And also your grace," said Father Voynovski.
"Yes, that is true. Until a man starts, he is bustling and hurrying andin trouble; only when the wind blows around him in the field is itlight at his heartstrings. I remember how when, ten years ago, we weremarching to Hotsim, there was a wonderful willingness in every warrior,so that though the action took place in the harsh weather of November,more than one threw his coat off because of the warmth which came outof his heart then. Well, God, who gave such a victory that time, willgive it undoubtedly now, for the leader is the same, and the vigor andvalor of the men not inferior. I know nations splendidly, Swedes,French, even Germans, but against Turks there is no one superior to ourmen."
"I have heard how his grace the king said the same," replied FatherVoynovski. "'The Germans,' said he, 'stand under fire patiently, thoughthey blink when attacking, but,' said he, 'if I can bring mine up noseto nose I am satisfied, for they will sweep everything before them ascan no other cavalry in existence.' And this is true. The Lord Jesushas gifted us richly with this power, not only the nobles, but thepeasants. For instance, our field infantry, when they spit on theirpalms and advance with their muskets, the best of the Janissariescannot in any way equal them. I have seen both more than once in thestruggle."
"If God has preserved in health Yatsek and Stashko, I am glad thattheir earliest campaign will be made against Turkish warriors. But howdoes your grace think, against whom will the Turks turn thei
r mainforces?"
"Against the emperor, as it seems, for they are warring against him,and helping rebellion in Hungary. But the Turks have two or threearmies, hence it is unknown where we shall meet them decisively. Forthis cause, beyond doubt, no main camp has been organized, andregiments move from one place to another, as reports come. Theregiments under Pan Yablonovski are now at Trembovla; others areconcentrating on Cracow; others as happens to each of them. I know notwhere the voevoda of Volynia is quartered at present, nor whereZbierhovski's command is. At moments I think that my son has notwritten this long time because his regiment may be moving toward theseparts."
"If he is commanded to Cracow, he must march near us, surely. That,however, depends upon where he was earlier and whence he is starting atpresent. We may get news at Radom. Is not our first night halt atRadom?"
"It is. I should wish too that the prelate Tvorkovski saw Panna Anulkaand gave her final counsels. He will furnish us letters to help her inCracow."
The conversation stopped for a time; then Pan Serafin raised his eyesagain to Father Voynovski.
"But," asked he, "what will happen, think you, should she meet Yatsekin Cracow?"
"I know not. In every case that will take place which God wishes.Yatsek might win a fortune by marriage, while she is as poor as aTurkish saint--but wealth alone is mere nonsense, the splendor of afamily is the great point in this case."
"Panna Anulka is of high lineage, and she is like gold--besides we knowwell that they are love-stricken, mortally."
"Of course, mortally, mortally."
The priest did not speak very willingly on this point, that was clear,for he turned the conversation to other subjects.
"Well," said he, "but let us think of this, that a robber is watchingfor that golden maiden. Do you remember Vilchopolski's words?"
Pan Serafin looked at the depth of the forest on all sides.
"Yes. But the Krepetskis will not dare," said he. "They will not dare!Our party is fairly large, and your grace sees the calmness ofeverything around us. I wish the girl to be in that carriage forsafety, but she begged to be on horseback--she has no fear ofanything."
"Well, she has good blood. But I note that she masters you thoroughly."
"And you, too, somewhat," answered Pan Serafin. "But as to me I confessright away; when she begs for a thing she knows how to move her eyes insuch fashion that you must yield where you stand. Women have variousmethods, but have you noticed that she has that sort of blinking beforewhich a man drops his arms. Near Belchantska I will tell her to enterthe carriage, but so far she wishes absolutely to be on horseback,because, as she says, it is healthier."
"In such weather it is surely healthier."
"Look how rosy the girl is, just like a euphorbia laurel."
"What is her rosiness to me?" replied Father Voynovski. "But in truththe dear day is lovely."
In fact the weather was really wonderful, and the morning fresh anddewy. Single drops on the needlelike pine leaves glittered with therainbow-like colors of diamonds. The forest interior was brightened byhazel trees filled with the sun rays of morning. Farther in, orioleswere twittering with joyousness. Roundabout was the odor of pine, thewhole earth seemed rejoicing, and the blue air was cloudless.
Thus pushing forward, they reached the same tar pit at which Martsianhad been seized by the brothers. But the fear that some ambush might bethere lurking proved groundless. Near the well were two tar-ladenwagons, nothing more. To these, which belonged to peasants, wereattached two wretched little horses, whose heads were sunk in bags ofoats to their foreheads; the drivers, each near the side of his horse,were eating cheese and bread, but at sight of the showy party they putaway these provisions; when asked if they had seen armed men, theyanswered that since morning a mounted man had been waiting, but thatshortly before, on seeing this party from a distance, he had rushedaway with all the speed of his beast in the opposite direction. Thenews alarmed Pan Serafin. It seemed to him that this horseman had beensent as a scout by Krepetski; and he redoubled his watchfulness. Hecommanded two attendants to ride at both sides and examine the forest;he sent two others ahead with this order: "If ye see an armed groupfire your muskets, and return with all haste to the wagons." An hourpassed, however, without a report from them. The party pushed forwardslowly, watching in front and at both sides with carefulness, but itwas quiet in the forest, except that the orioles twittered, while hereand there was heard the hammering of those little smiths of the forest,the hard-working woodpeckers.
At last they reached a wide plain, but before going out on it PanSerafin and the priest directed Anulka to sit in the carriage, sincethey had to pass now not far from Belchantska, the trees of which, andeven the mansion between them, were visible to the eye without glasses.The young lady looked on that house with emotion, for in it she hadpassed very many of the best, and the bitterest, days of her existence.She had wished to look first of all at Vyrambki, but the Belchantskalindens so covered it that the dwelling was not to be seen from thecarriage. It occurred to Anulka that she might never again in her lifesee those places, so she sighed quietly and became sorrowful.
The Bukoyemskis looked challengingly and quickly at the mansion, thevillage, and the neighborhood, but great quiet reigned in those places.Along broad fallow lands, which were flooded in sunlight, were grazingcows and sheep, guarded by dogs, and crowds of children. Here and thereflocks of geese seemed white spots, and had it not been for summerheat, one might have thought from afar that they were bits of snowlying on the hill slopes; for the rest the region seemed empty.
Pan Serafin, who lacked not the daring of a cavalier, wished to showthe Krepetskis how little he cared for them, and directed to make thefirst halt at that place, and give rest to the horses. So the partystopped; on one side were fields of wheat waving under the wind andrustling gently; on the other was the silence of the plain broken onlyby the snorting of horses.
"Health! health!" said the attendants in answer to the snorting.
But that calm was not to the taste of the youngest Bukoyemski, whoturned toward the mansion and cried to the absent Krepetskis, while hebeckoned with his hand an invitation.
"But come out here, ye sons of a such a one! O Stump, show thy dogsnout; we will soon put a cross on it with our sabres!"
Then he bent toward the carriage.
"Your ladyship," said he, "that Martsian and his company are not in ahurry to attack us, neither he nor his bandits from the wilderness."
"But do bandits attack?" asked the lady.
"Oh-ho! they do, but not us. And there are many of them in thewilderness of Kozenitse, and in the forest toward Cracow. If his Gracethe King would grant pardon, enough would be found of those banditsright here in this neighborhood to make two good regiments."
"I should rather meet bandits than Pan Martsian's company, of whichpeople tell in Belchantska such terrible stories. I have not heard ofbandits attacking a mansion."
"They do not, for a bandit has the same kind of sense that a wolf has.Consider, young lady, that a wolf never kills sheep or horned cattle inthe neighborhood where his lair is."
"He speaks truth," said the other brothers.
Yan, glad of this praise, explained further.
"The bandit attacks no village or mansion near his hiding place. For ifneighboring people should pursue, they, knowing the forests and secretspots in them, would hunt him out the more easily. So bandits go to adistance, and plunder houses or fall upon travellers in great or smallparties."
"Have they no fear?"
"They have no fear of God. Why should they fear men?"
But Panna Anulka had turned her mind elsewhere, so, when Pan Serafincame to the carriage, she began to blink and implore him.
"Why should I stay in the carriage when no attack threatens? May I notgo on horseback?"
"Why?" asked Pan Serafin. "The sun is high. It would burn your face.There is one who would not like that."
Thereupon she withdrew on a sudden to the depth of the carr
iage, andPan Serafin turned to the brothers,--
"Have I not told her the truth?"
But not being quick-witted, they missed the point of the answer.
"Who would not like?" inquired they. "Who?"
Pan Serafin shrugged his shoulders.
"The prince bishop of Cracow, the German emperor, and the king ofFrance," answered he.
He gave the sign then, and all started.
They passed Belchantska, and advanced again among tilled fields, fallowland, meadows, and broad wind-swept spaces which were bordered on thehorizon by a blue rim of forest. At Yedlina they stopped for a secondrest, during which the brewers, the citizens, and the peasants tookfarewell of Father Voynovski--and before evening they stopped for theirfirst night rest at Radom.
Martsian had not given the least sign of life. They learned that he hadpassed the day previous in Radom, and had drunk with his company, buthad gone home for the night; hence the priest and Pan Serafin breathedwith more freedom, judging that no danger threatened them now on thejourney.
The prelate Tvorkovski furnished letters to Father Hatski, to Gninski,the vice-chancellor who, as they knew, was enrolling a whole regimentfor the coming war at his own cost, and one also to Pan Matchynski. Hewas rejoiced to see Panna Anulka and Father Voynovski, for whom he felta great friendship, and Pan Serafin, in whom he prized a skilledLatinist, who understood every quotation and maxim. He, too, had heardof Martsian's threats, but had lent no great weight to them, judgingthat if an attack had been planned it would have been made in the wildsof Kozenitse, more favorable for that kind of deed than the forestsbetween Radom and Kieltse.
"Martsian will not attack you," said he to Pan Serafin, "and his fatherwill not bring an action, for he would meet me; he knows that I haveother weapons against him besides the church censure."
The prelate entertained them all day, and let them start only towardevening. Since danger seemed set aside most decidedly, Pan Serafinagreed to night travel, all the more since great heat was beginning.The first five miles, however, they passed during daylight. On theriver Oronka, which here and there formed morasses, began again, inthose days, extensive pine forests, which surrounded Oronsk, Sucha,Krogulha, and extended as far as Shydlovets, and beyond, towardMrochkov and Bzin, down to Kieltse. They moved slowly, for in someplaces the old road lay among sandy hillocks and holes, while in othersit sank very notably and became a muddy, stick-covered ridgeway. Thisridge lay in a quagmire through which a man could pass neither withwagon nor horse, nor go on foot at any season, unless during very drysummers. These places enjoyed no good repute, but for this Pan Serafinand his party cared little; they were confident of their strength, andglad to move in cool air when heat did not trouble men, or flies annoyhorses.
A clear and pleasant night came down quickly, with a full moon whichappeared above the pine woods, enormous and ruddy, decreasing andgrowing pale as it rose, till in time it was white, and sailed like asilver swan through the dark blue of the night sky. The wind ceased,and the motionless pine wood was buried in a stillness broken only bythe voices of gnats flying in from broad pools, and by the playing oflandrails in the grass of the neighboring meadows.
Father Voynovski intoned: "Hail, O Wise Lady! and Mansions dear toGod," to which the four bass voices of the Bukoyemskis and Pan Serafinanswered immediately: "Adorned by the golden table and seven columns."Panna Anulka joined the chorus, after her the attendants, and soon thatpious hymn was resounding through the forest. But when they hadfinished all the "Hours," and repeated all the "Hail, Marys!" silenceset in again. The priest, the brothers, and Pan Serafin conversed forsome time yet in lowered voices; then they began to doze, and at lastfell asleep soundly.
They did not hear either the "Vio! Vio!" of the drivers, or thesnorting of horses, or the explosive sound made when hoofs were drawnout of mud on that long ridge way which lay in the sticky andreed-covered quagmire. The party came to the ridge somewhat beforemidnight. The shouts of attendants, who were advancing in front, firstroused the sleepers.
"Stop! stop!"
All opened their eyes. The Bukoyemskis straightened in their saddlesand sprang ahead promptly.
"But what is the matter?"
"The road is barred. There is a ditch across it, and beyond the ditch abreastwork."
The sabres of the brothers came biting from their scabbards and gleamedin the moonlight.
"To arms! an ambuscade!"
Pan Serafin found himself at the obstruction in one moment, andunderstood that there was no chance of being mistaken: a broad ditchhad been dug across the ridgeway. Beyond the ditch lay whole pine treeswhich, with their branches sticking up, formed a great breastwork. Themen who stopped the road in that fashion had evidently intended to letthe party in on the ridge, from which there was no escape on eitherside, and attack in the rear then.
"To your guns! to muskets!" thundered Father Voynovski. "They arecoming!"
In fact about a hundred yards in the rear certain dark, square forms,strange, quite unlike men, appeared on the ridge, and ran toward thewagons very quickly.
"Fire!" commanded the priest.
A report was heard, and brilliant flashes rent the night gloom. Onlyone form rolled to the earth, but the other men ran the more swiftlytoward the wagons, and after them denser groups made their appearance.
Instructed by whole years of war, the priest divined straightway thatthose men were carrying bundles before them, straw, reeds, or willows,and that was why the first discharge had effected so little.
"Fire! In order! four at a time!--and at their knees!" cried he.
Two attendants held guns charged with slugs. These men took theirplaces with others, and spat at the knees of the attackers. A cry ofpain was heard promptly, and this time the whole front rank of bundlestumbled down to the mud on the ridgeway, but the next rank of mensprang over those who were prostrate, and came still nearer the wagons.
"Fire!" was commanded a third time.
Again came a salvo, with more effect this time, for the onrush wasstopped, and disorder appeared among the attackers.
The priest acquired courage, for he knew that the attackers hadoutwitted themselves in the choice of position. It is true that not aliving soul would escape in case they should triumph, and the banditshad this in view specially; but, not having men to hem in the party onall sides, they were forced to attack only over the ridgeway, hence ina thin body, which again lightened defence beyond common, so that fiveor six valiant warriors might ward off attack until daylight.
The attackers, too, began to use muskets, but caused no great damage,clearly because of poor weapons. Their first fire struck only a horseand one attendant. The Bukoyemskis begged to charge the enemy,guaranteeing to sweep right and left into the quagmire any men whomthey might not crush in the mud of the roadway. But the priest, whokept their strength for the last, would not send them; he commanded thebrothers, however, as excellent marksmen, to roast the attackers from adistance, and Pan Serafin commanded to watch the ditch sharply, and thebreastwork.
"If they attack us from that side," said he, "they may do something,but they will not get us cheaply."
Then he hastened for a moment to the carriage where the ladies werepraying without great fear, though audibly.
"Oh, this is nothing!" said he. "Have no fear!"
"I have no fear," answered Panna Anulka. "But I should like to be onhorseback."
Shots drowned further words. The attackers, confused for a moment,pressed along the ridge now, with wonderful and simply blind daring,since it was clear that they would not effect much on that side.
"Hm!" thought the priest. "Were it not for the women, we might chargethem."
And he had begun to think of sending the four brothers with four othergood warriors, when he looked at both flanks and trembled.
On the two sides of that quagmire appeared crowds of men, who,springing from hillock to hillock, or along sheaves of reeds, which hadbeen fixed in soft places on purpose, were running toward the wagons
.
The priest turned to them, in the shortest time possible, two ranks ofattendants, but he understood in a flash the extent of his peril. Hisparty was surrounded on three sides. The attendants were, it is true,chosen men, who had been more than once in sharp struggles, but theywere insufficient in number, especially as some had to guard extrahorses. Hence it was evident that after the first fire, inadequatebecause of so many attackers, there would be a hand-to-hand strugglebefore guns could be loaded a second time, and the side which provedweaker would be forced to go down in that trial.
Only one plan remained, to retreat by the ridgeway, that is, leave thewagons, command the Bukoyemskis to sweep all before them, and push onbehind the four brothers, keeping the women among the horses in thecentre. So when they had fired at both sides again, the priest orderedthe women to mount, and arranged all for the onrush. In the first rankwere the four brothers, behind them six attendants, then Panna Anulkaand Pani Dzvonkovski, at the side the priest and Pan Serafin, behindthem eight attendants, four in a rank. After the charge and retreatfrom the ridgeway he intended to reach the first village, collect allthe peasants, return then and rescue the wagons.
Still he stopped for a moment, and only when the attackers were littlemore than twenty yards distant, and when on a sudden wild sounds wereheard beyond the breastwork, did he shout the order,--
"Strike!"
"Strike!" roared the Bukoyemskis, and they moved like a hurricane whichdestroys all things before it. When they had ridden to the enemy thehorses rose on their haunches and plunged into the dense crowd ofrobbers, trampling some, pushing others to the quagmire, overthrowingwhole lines of people. The brothers cut with sabres unsparingly, andwithout stopping. There was great shouting, and splashing of bodies asmen fell into the water near the ridgeway, but the four dreadfulhorsemen pushed forward; their arms moving like those of a windmill towhich a gale gives dreadful impetus. Some attackers sprang willinglyinto the water to save themselves; others put forks and bill-hooksagainst the onrushing brothers. Clubs and spears were raised also; butagain the horses reared, and, breaking everything before them, swept onlike a whirlwind in a young forest.
Had not the road been so narrow, and those who were slashed had allescape barred to them, and those behind not pushed on those in front,the Bukoyemskis would have passed the whole ridgeway. But since morethan one of the bandits preferred battle to drowning, resistancecontinued, and, besides, it became still more stubborn. The hearts ofthe robbers were raging. They began to fight then not merely forplunder, or seizing some person, but from venom. At moments when shoutsceased, the gritting of teeth became audible and curses rose loudly.The rush of the Bukoyemskis was arrested. It came to their minds atthat moment that they would have to die, perhaps. And when, on asudden, they heard still farther out there the tramping of horses, andloud shouts were raised in all parts of the thicket surrounding thequagmire, they felt sure that the moment of death was approaching.Hence they smashed terribly; they would not sell their lives cheaply inany case.
But now something marvellous happened. Many voices were heard all atonce shouting: "Strike!" Sabres gleamed in the moonlight. Certainhorsemen fell to cutting and hewing in the rear of the robbers, who,because of this sudden attack, were seized in one instant with terror.Escape in the rear was now closed to them; nothing remained but escapeat either side of the roadway. Only some, therefore, offered adesperate resistance. The more numerous sprang like ducks to the turfyquagmire on both sides. The quagmire broke under them; then graspinggrass, clumps, and reeds, they clung to hillocks, or lay on theirbellies not to sink the first moment.
Only a small company, armed with scythes fixed to poles, defendedthemselves for some time yet with madness. Because of this manyhorsemen were wounded. But at last even this handful, seeing that forthem there was no rescue whatever, threw down their weapons, fell ontheir knees, and begged mercy. They were taken alive to be witnesses.
Meanwhile horsemen from both sides stood facing one another, and raisedtheir voices.
"Halt! halt! Who are ye?"
"But who are ye?"
"Tsyprianovitch of Yedlinka."
"For God's sake! these are our people!"
And two riders pushed from the ranks quickly. One inclined to PanSerafin, seized his hand straightway, and covered it with kisses; theother rushed to the priest's shoulder.
"Stanislav!" cried Pan Serafin.
"Yatsek!" shouted the priest.
The greetings and embraces continued till speech came to Pan Serafin,--
"For God's sake, whence come ye?"
"Our regiment was marching to Cracow. Yatsek and I had permission tovisit you at Yedlinka. Meanwhile we learned at Radom, while halting forfood there, that thou, father, and the priest, and the Bukoyemskis hadset out an hour earlier by the highroad toward Kieltse."
"Did the prelate tell thee?"
"No! We did not see him. Radom Jews told us; we did not go then toYedlinka, but moved on at once lest we might miss you. At midnight weheard firing, so we all rushed to give aid, thinking that bandits hadfallen upon travellers. It did not occur to us that ye were thepersons. God be thanked, God be thanked, that we came up in season!"
"Not bandits attacked us, but the Krepetskis. It is a question of PannaAnulka, who is with us."
"As God lives!" exclaimed Stanislav. "Then I think that his soul willleave Yatsek."
"I wrote to thee about her, but it is evident that my letter did notreach thee."
"No, for we are marching these three weeks. I have not written of latebecause I had to come hither."
Shouts from the Bukoyemskis, the attendants, and the warriors stoppedfurther converse. At that moment also attendants ran up with lightedtorches. A supply had been taken by Pan Serafin that he might havewherewith to give light during darkness. It was as clear on the road asin daylight, and in those bright gleams Yatsek saw the gray horse onwhich Panna Anulka was sitting.
He grew dumb at sight of her.
"Yes, she is with us," said Father Voynovski, seeing his astonishment.
Then Yatsek urged his horse forward, and halted before her. Heuncovered his head, and remained there lost as he looked at her. Hisface was as white as chalk, his breath had almost left him, and he wasspeechless.
After a moment the cap fell to the earth from his fingers, his headdropped to the mane of the horse, and his eyes closed.
"But he is wounded!" cried Lukash Bukoyemski.
On the Field of Glory: An Historical Novel of the Time of King John Sobieski Page 24